World Obligated to Prevent Genocide in Darfur
But... But... Kofi sez it's not genocide, so there's no hurry... | Jerry Fowler is Staff Director of the Committee on Conscience, a division of the U.S. Holocaust Museum created to ensure that genocide never happens again. He visited refugee camps in Chad last month and determined that there is a real threat of genocide in Darfur. AllAfrica.comâs Maria Nghidinwa spoke with Fowler about the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
With more first-hand accounts of violence in Darfur, from villages inside Sudan and refugees in Chad, there is a growing controversy over whether the events taking place in Darfur should be called genocide. Do you think this is an appropriate way to describe the violence?
I think, first of all, that thatâs the wrong question. I think that there is clearly a threat of genocide, and the Genocide Convention talks about preventing genocide. And I donât think that we have to waste any more time figuring out whether it is or it isnât before we act. The time to act is now.
To put that question to people is fine, but like Kofi Annan said yesterday, "Well, I canât say itâs genocide." That doesnât get him off the hook, because the charge is to prevent genocide. And so thatâs just what sometimes bothers me is the suggestion that if Kofi Annan says itâs not genocide, that then heâs off the hook, and the Security Councilâs off the hook, and all the nations are off the hook.
How has the Committee on Conscience at the U.S. Holocaust Museum begun investigating and reporting on the events in Sudan?
Weâve been doing a lot of activities. I went to Chad to speak to refugees and since Iâve come back, Iâve done a lot of press. I published an article in the Washington Post. Iâve been on a lot of radio shows. I just did a show at the National Public Radio station in Illinois earlier today in Urbana, IL. Weâve done events at the [Holocaust] museum and weâre working on an event for next Thursday. Itâs not set yet, so I canât really tell you anything about it. But if it comes off itâs going to be a very high-profile event, so weâre trying to, in every way that we can, raise awareness of whatâs happening, generate concern and prompt action.
What response have you gotten from the U.S. public so far?
I was just on this radio show and - this is out in the middle of America, Illinois - and the publicâs responding. Theyâre hearing this and theyâre moved by what theyâre hearing, moved to do something. Earlier in the week, I talked to a group in Tennessee, and it was the same thing. Youâre starting to see it be picked up, not just from what Iâm doing, but in general, in newspapers around the country. So there is a public reaction thatâs building. Iâm getting some reaction from the United States government too. Theyâre fully engaged. My observation is that theyâre not getting assistance from other countries, especially on the Security Council, and I think thereâs still a long way to go on that regard.
From your perspective, are other African countries showing interest in helping with the situation, or are they rather quiet about it?
The African Union is doing a good job in fielding monitors for the ceasefire that was agreed to, but the problem is the ceasefire is not really being...I suppose once they monitor it, theyâll say itâs not really being adhered to, but we already know that. I would encourage African governments to put more pressure on Khartoum. I think it was a mistake to elect Khartoum to the Human Rights Commission while itâs committing massive human rights abuses, not only against its own population, but against the portion of its population that is identified as black African. I think that should raise the ire of every government in sub-Saharan Africa.
Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-06-20 |